Attorneys Representing Dog Attack Victims Across Texas

This website is maintained by the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a Dallas, Texas law firm representing people across Texas for dog bite injury cases. We have attempted to provide useful information for those harmed by animal attacks.

Posts Tagged ‘Arrest’

Wednesday, August 9th, 2017

White pit bull (Photo: Labeled for resuse)

On Tuesday, August 1, 2017, 20-month-old Paris Adams was mauled to death by two family pit bulls. Deputies received a call in Hart County, Georgia, at about 3:15 p.m. In the backyard of his home, the boy had been viciously attacked. According to Scott Boleman, Deputy Coroner, the toddler was transported to an emergency care center, where he went and pronounced the child dead.

The pit bulls lived indoors in the same home with Adams. The dogs were observed for a few days before being put down, according to Sheriff Mike Cleveland of Hart County.

Within a matter of hours after the deadly pit bull mauling, Adams’ 70-year-old grandmother was charged with several felonies: involuntary manslaughter; second-degree cruelty to a child; and second-degree murder. The Hartwell Police Department had previously cited the grandmother multiple times for maintaining disorderly animals.

On the day of the incident, a report on the investigation of the pit bull fatality shows that the grandmother had been outside with Adams. When she went to go back inside her home, the two pit bulls ran past her, knocking her down, and attacked the 20-month-old. The grandmother attempted to stop the attack and finally managed to put the pit bulls in the house. She allegedly transported the boy first to pick up his mother and then took him to an urgent care facility.

Further research shows that dogs belonging to the grandmother had a history of being a menace in the area.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into Adams’ death. News is awaited on whether the mother will also be charged. Also, it is speculated that the grandmother’s decision not to call 9-1-1 but to pick up the child’s mother before going to a medical facility may play into charges against her. Adams was deceased when he arrived at the urgent care center.

As with every post on this website, we are only providing information in this post and do not make any allegation or assertion that anyone acted inappropriately or engaged in misconduct.

Wednesday, April 13th, 2016

1 year old brindle Pit bull mix playing in backyard (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a Nutley, New Jersey, neighborhood on Saturday night, a pit bull got loose from his owner and viciously attacked an 11-month-old toddler in her stroller. It was already dark outside, and the child’s parents didn’t see the attack coming. Suddenly the dog ran up and latched onto the toddler’s leg. The baby’s and mother’s screams reportedly brought almost the entire neighborhood outside. Neighbors quickly ran to their aid, though it wasn’t easy to get the pit bull to let go of the child. Neighbors wrapped a tourniquet around the leg. The child was quickly transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. She required more than 70 stitches on her leg. Reportedly, fixing her injuries will require extensive plastic surgery.

Stories about pit bull attacks are continuous. On Sunday at about 6:30 pm in Charlotte, North Carolina, 9-year-old Jonathan Robero was playing near a park when two pit bull mixes viciously attacked him. According to police, one of the dogs was 3 years old and the other 6 years old. The dogs did not have up-to-date vaccination records, and both are being held for 10 days observation, to look for signs of rabies. Robero suffered serious injuries and has undergone one surgery with another planned. Details about his injuries are not available, but his family released photos showing that he has heavy bandages covering both arms and both legs. He also has cuts on his face. Police said an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Read more about recent pit bull attacks in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this ongoing story.

Thursday, April 7th, 2016

On Monday, March 28, 2016, Bessie Flowers became the sixth person in the United States this year to be killed by pit bulls. The two pit bulls that mauled her to death were the family dogs, and neighbors reported having seen her walk the dogs many times. No further details about the incident have been reported. Paramedics were called to the home. When they arrived, they found Flowers suffering from pit bull bites. She died and was pronounced dead at the scene.

In Fresno, California this week, two pit bulls escaped their backyard and attacked a woman, who suffered life-threatening injuries and is now fighting for her life. The yard the dogs escaped from is enclosed by a fence that’s in good condition. It’s suspected that the two young pit bulls used a chair in the yard to jump over the fence. Both dogs were involved in attacking the 50-year-old woman in a back alley. Lt. Joe Gomez of the Fresno Police Department said that the woman was critically injured and suffered bites on every part of her body. Sadly, he said, the victim may not survive. The woman’s injuries, which included a torn scalp, are bad enough that she has not yet been identified. Police were even unable to make an identifying fingerprint. In spite of the lack of identity of the woman, who continues to be in critical condition, physicians have had to amputate her left arm, in treatment of her injuries.

The two dogs that attacked the woman will be euthanized. Two other pit bulls in the home have been removed by Animal Control.

The day before this tragic incident, a boy in Fresno was attacked by two pit bulls as he was walking home from school.

Thursday, March 31st, 2016

On Monday, March 28, 2016, Bessie Flowers became the sixth person in the United States this year to be killed by pit bulls. The two pit bulls that mauled her to death were the family dogs, and neighbors reported having seen her walk the dogs many times. No further details about the incident have been reported. Paramedics were called to the home. When they arrived, they found Flowers suffering from pit bull bites. She died and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gladys Alexander of Olympia, Washington, is another elderly woman killed by pit bulls this year. Alexander, age 92, was savagely attacked by four pit bull mix dogs and died two days later, on March 8, 2016. It was common for Alexander to enter a neighbor’s home when the woman was away. On the day of the attack, she went inside to give her a newspaper. When the neighbor returned home, the dogs were still attacking the 92-year-old. The neighbor got the dogs off of her and called 9-1-1. The victim had suffered life-threatening injuries and was soon airlifted to a nearby hospital. She died two days later. Only one of the dogs at the neighbor’s house was actually hers. The other three belonged to her daughter, who had been incarcerated. All four of the dogs have now been euthanized. There are no criminal charges in connection with this case.

The two other people killed this year by pit bulls were also among the most vulnerable in society.

A series of pit bull attacks in a Mesquite, Texas, neighborhood has failed to move city officials to take protective actions. Neighbors are outraged at the lack of response to the recent attacks which led to two teenagers being injured and two family pets being killed. Ultimately, one of two pit bulls was removed from the home, but one of the aggressive dogs remains in the neighborhood. Witnesses and victims say they haven’t even been interviewed by investigators in connection with the allegations, fears, and complaints.

In December 2015, the female and male pit bulls, Cookie and Pretty Boy, escaped from their yard and attempted to viciously attack a neighbor. The man was able to safely get inside his home, but he was clearly placed in danger. Cookie tried to get inside his home, but he used the staple gun that he had been putting up Christmas lights with to stop the attack. Mesquite police were called, and they captured the dogs. The dogs were quickly returned to the owner, who received a citation. That alone was upsetting to people in the neighborhood, and then things recently began to get much worse.

On February 17, the pit bulls escaped their home and went across the street and intimidated a neighbor who was climbing in his truck at the time. Cookie climbed on top of the man and tried to bite him, but the dogs were suddenly distracted by a Chihuahua across the street that began barking. The pit bulls killed the small dog and another neighbor’s beloved cat, as well.

The next victims of a pit bull attack in the Mesquite neighborhood were 15 and 17-year-old girls. Read more about this story in this ongoing series.

Friday, July 31st, 2015

The statistic that approximately 4.4 million people are bitten by dogs in the U.S. annually may not mean a lot until you become part of the statistic. The following are four accounts of dog bites in recent days, three in Dumas County, Texas, and one in Corpus Christi.

In Dumas:

On July 21, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Cedar because a mail carrier was reported to have been bitten by a dog at large. The postal worker was not injured. Officers issued the dog’s owner a citation for having an animal at large.

On July 26, there were two dog bites in Dumas. In the 600 block of Durrett, police were called because a large black dog was trying to bite several people in the neighborhood. When officers arrived on the scene, the dog was seen lying under bushes. Suddenly, as the officers were retreating, the dog charged and bit a Moore County Deputy. When the dog tried to attack another officer, the deputy shot and killed it. The injured officer received medical treatment at Moore County Hospital.

In the 1600 block of Binkley, officers were called regarding a vicious dog. When the police arrived, the dog charged one of the officers, who escaped by jumping onto the hood of a car. Another police officer arrived, and the dog also charged him. The officer shot and killed the dog not only to protect himself but also to protect others.

In Corpus Christi:

On the morning of July 30, a woman was walking her dog, a Chihuahua, on Saint Joseph Street when a Blue Heeler got out of his yard through an opening in the fence and attacked them. The woman protected her pet and was bit on the arm and leg. The dog then went further down the street and bit another woman. Animal Control Services picked up the dog, and no further details about the case have been released.

It is against the law for dogs to run at large within the city limits of virtually every city in Texas. Learn more about the dangers of dogs at large in this continuing series.

Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

Some experts say that poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds, and they all agree that poodles can be ideal pets for families with children. These curly haired dogs are fun-loving, and they don’t shed, which makes them good dogs for homes that need a hypoallergenic pet. Poodles need to be groomed daily; a good daily brushing is what is most needed. Poodles were bred for the purpose of retrieving things from the water. Although poodles are often seen with fancy fur cuts, northing elaborate is necessary or needed.

Poodles need socialization and exercise. The breed becomes overweight quickly when fed too much. Small breeds of poodles are considered to be especially ideal for families with kids.

Irish Setter

Some families may be a perfect fit with a beautiful Irish setter, but that’s not always the case. Irish setters are highly active dogs, and they can be very stubborn. The breed can also be independent and eager to please. Irish setters, on average, weigh between 60 and 70 pounds and stand about between 25 inches and 27 inches tall.

Because Irish setters are mischievous, they can be a bit rambunctious. The combination of mischievous and rambunctious means that they are not necessarily the ideal breed to have around small children. Irish setters have innate intelligence and are loving in nature.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this continuing series for more information about dogs that are best suited for families with small children, to prevent dog attacks.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offers advice for avoiding a dog attack and starts out with the words “be polite.” It is doubtful that politeness or lack of it had much, if anything, to do with the three attacks mentioned in this series; but HSUS does have the following helpful tips:

Always allow a dog to sniff you before petting it, including the family dog.

There are times when you should not disturb a dog, including when he is: eating, sleeping, caring for puppies, or chewing on a toy.

Do not approach a strange dog, especially if the dog is tied up, in a vehicle, or behind a fence. Always keep in mind that dogs usually perceive a person they are unfamiliar with as a threat or an intruder.

A dog’s body language can be very helpful in letting you know whether a dog feels threatened and may bite. The following are signs that a dog is feeling uncomfortable and may feel compelled to bite:

Stiffened tail

Laid back ears

Pulled back head

Tensed body

Eyes rolled, with the whites visible

Flicking tongue

Backing away

Staring intensely

Bared teeth

If you believe a dog may bite you, do not turn your back on him and do not run away. Dogs have a natural instinct to give chase. The following are tips on what to do if you think a dog may attack you:

Do not scream or run away.

Stand motionless, like a tree, with hands at your sides.

Do not look the dog in the eyes because dogs consider eye contact an act of aggression.

In many cases, a dog will lose interest in a person who is standing motionless. Slowly back away from the area until the dog is out of your line of sight.

If the dog still attacks, put anything between you and the dog that you can, such as a jacket, backpack, bicycle, umbrella, or trash can.

If the dog knocks you to the ground or if you fall, curl into a ball and protect your ears with your hands. Remain motionless and try not to scream.

Tuesday, February 17th, 2015

A Belgian Malinois of a police K-9 unit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A 4-year-old in Southern California was brutally attacked by his father’s police dog, a Belgian shepherd dog, on Thursday. The child’s foot and part of the leg below the knee had to be amputated as a result of the police dog attack . The child is still hospitalized but will recover and be fitted for a prosthetic. It is expected that the dog will be euthanized after ten days in quarantine.

The attack occurred at a time when everyone from the household was gone except the boy and his father. The dad went upstairs for a few minutes; and during that time, the child went into the backyard. For reasons the dad says he doesn’t understand, the dog’s training for catching criminals kicked in. The shepherd dog latched onto the 4-year-olds leg and wouldn’t let go. Neighbors heard screams and tore down a fence to get to the child, and they pried the dog’s jaws open. Neighbors also called 9-1-1 immediately.

The boy’s father has been the 7-year-old dog’s handler for approximately two years. He had been gone for two days when the tragic incident occurred, and he had just moved the dog from the kennel to the backyard. There was no record of prior aggression, and the dog was said to have an impeccable record as a narcotics, SWAT, and patrol dog.

The police are investigating the incident to find whether there were any violations of procedures because police dogs are always supposed to be under their handler’s direct supervision.

The boy is said to be in good spirits; but his father is reportedly devastated and is staying by his child’s side.

Friday, January 16th, 2015

English: Downtown Austin from across Town Lake. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week it was reported that an arrest warrant was issued for a man charged with a third degree felony involving a dog bite incident that occurred on September 5, 2014. The victim of the dog bite was on Cameron Road in Northeast Austin, Texas. He was waiting for a bus, and a dog was tied to a trash can nearby. The owner of the dog spoke with the victim and then went into an alley but did not bring his dog with him. The dog attacked the man who was sitting on the curb waiting for the bus. Part of the man’s ear lobe was bitten off in the attack.

According to police, the victim said he did not provoke the dog in any way, by trying to touch or even talk to it.

After the dog attack, the man got on the bus. When the bus driver realized the victim was bleeding heavily, he stopped to let him off at a payphone. The man was taken by ambulance to University Medical Center Brackenridge, and the wound on his ear was closed up with stitches.

The victim gave a description of the dog’s owner, who the police identified as a transient in the area. The victim identified the dog owner in a lineup, and he also recognized the man’s dog in a photo that was taken at the Austin Animal Center.

Bond for the accused is set at $6,000, and police are currently trying to find the man to charge and arrest him.